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| Photo by Doug Pensinger / Getty Images Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (No. 18) will make his fourth Super Bowl appearance and is the first quarterback in league history to take more than one team to multiple Super Bowls. |
The Denver Broncos and Peyton Manning have life in them yet, and they will make an appearance in Super Bowl L to face the Carolina Panthers on Feb. 7 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
Denver defeated the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, Tom Brady and Bill Belichick 20-18 in another chapter of the Manning versus Brady rivalry.
It will be Manning's fourth trip to the Super Bowl, and he has a chance to even his record to 2-2 and get a second ring should he and the Broncos win.
Manning was far from spectacular by any stretch throwing for 176 yards and two touchdowns, but Brady was worse as the 4-time champion threw for 310 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in the losing effort.
The loss also marks the third time Manning has gotten the better of Brady in postseason play as Manning is now 3-0 since 2006 when going against Brady, and no other quarterback has as many playoff wins versus Brady. In AFC championship games, Manning has a career record of 4-1, but the elusive second Super Bowl ring is the next target in his cross-hairs at this stage in his illustrious 18-year career.
"It's been a unique season," Manning said. "And this game today was a unique game."
Manning has been known as an offensive stat machine, but at this point in his career he has been more of a game-manager as his physical skills have deteriorated since undergoing multiple surgeries during the 2011 season; his final season with the Indianapolis Colts.
The No. 1 ranked (in defensive efficiency) Bronco defense -- led by Von Miller -- was the difference-maker of the game as Brady was under duress through all four quarters. Brady was hit a season-high 23 times, and he had not been hit more than 12 times in a single game during the regular season going into Sunday's game.
In Brady's defense, the Patriots led the league with 37 starting combinations on their offensive line throughout the entire 2015 season, and that lack of continuity would affect any quarterback regardless of how much success was accomplished.
Turnovers were also a factor as Brady threw two interceptions in the first half. In four of the last five playoff games, Brady has thrown an interception. This season when the Broncos have multiple takeaways, they are 7-1 and 7-0 when they win the turnover battle.
Denver also saw something from Manning they had not seen very much this season. Going into the game, Manning had one touchdown pass at home. In the first half alone, Manning had thrown two to tight end Owen Daniels.
"He's going to do what he has to do to win," head coach Gary Kubiak said. "He's one of the greatest competitors ever in this league."
Another reason why the rivalry between Manning and Brady has an impressive history is because both quarterbacks hold career playoff records. Brady is first all-time in starts (30), passing yards (7.647), and passing touchdowns (55) while Manning is second with 25 starts and 7.022 passing yards and ranks fourth with 38 passing touchdowns.
Speculation throughout the league is that this may be Manning's final season, and he will get one more chance to leave his postseason legacy on a high note following the 43-8 loss in Super Bowl XLVIII against the Seattle Seahawks in 2014. Plus, Manning has an opportunity to be the oldest (39 years) quarterback to win a Super Bowl since John Elway.
*All information was borrowed from espn.com, @ESPNStatsInfo, @MarkMaske, @WillReeveJr and @Zaclee_nyc
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